Currents News Staff
This is not the first time rumors about Pope Francis’ resignation have made the headlines. So how likely is it, that this time around, it’s true?
Vatican expert and Editor of Crux, John Allen, joined Currents News to discuss the big question and the history behind the speculation.
Currents News Staff
Some young Picassos had their first showcase since COVID began. The annual art show at St. Andrew Avellino Catholic Academy in Flushing, Queens returned to the school’s cafeteria.
It featured beautiful displays of paintings and life size and three-dimensional pieces.
You can see the art showed some of your favorite characters from the Little Mermaid, Ratatouille and Alice in Wonderland.
Currents News Staff
Bishop Robert Brennan marked his 60th birthday on June 7. Employees of the Chancery attended Mass celebrated by the bishop, where he told them, “I’m happy to be moving into my sixties with you.”
Afterwards, they gathered to sing happy birthday and presented him with a cake and other sweets. The bishop received dozens of greetings and well wishes on social media to mark this milestone.
The students at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Maspeth busted out their dance moves Monday for their fellow classmate.
Auggie Vinti is 4-years-old and was recently diagnosed with a rare form of brain cancer that can affect your breathing, walking, balance and swallowing.
All the funds raised from the Disney dance-a-thon will go to Auggie’s family to support medical expenses.
Little Auggie is currently receiving radiation treatment and he will be re-evaluated in 6 weeks and potentially start a clinical trial after that.
The Uvalde community is getting a major boost from the Diocese of Brooklyn and an entire school of student activists.
The kids of St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy wore orange on national anti-gun violence day, in response to the recent school shooting in Uvalde.
The kids themselves raised more than $1,300, but the schools Chairman of the Board also pledged to donate $10 for every student who took part, bringing their overall total to more than $3,000.
On top of the money, the students in every classroom also prayed for the victims and the Uvalde community.
Pope Francis’ travel plans to L’Aquila this summer is fueling speculation he’s got one foot out the door.
Talks are underway on Capitol Hill regarding potential gun control reform.
Students at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Academy in Maspeth, Queens took part in a Disney dance-a-thon fundraiser.
By Currents News Staff and Cindy Wooden
VATICAN CITY (CNS) — When the Vatican announced Pope Francis would travel to L’Aquila in central Italy Aug. 28 to open a seven-centuries-old celebration of forgiveness, people on social media began speculating that the pope would resign.
The 85-year-old pope will make his morning trip to L’Aquila just one day after a scheduled consistory to create 21 new cardinals and the day before a two-day meeting with the cardinals to discuss the reform of the Roman Curia, one of the main projects of his papacy.
Included in the trip, the Vatican said June 4, is a Mass in the square outside the medieval Basilica of Santa Maria di Collemaggio on the edge of town. The basilica is the burial place of St. Celestine V, a 13th-century pope who abdicated just a few months after his election.
When then-Pope Benedict XVI visited in 2009, he placed the long woolen pallium he had worn during his installation Mass on top of Pope Celestine’s glass casket as a gift. When Pope Benedict resigned in 2013, many people wondered if that gesture four years earlier had been a sign.
But Cardinal Giuseppe Petrocchi of L’Aquila, announcing Pope Francis’ visit on the archdiocesan website, focused only on the celebration of the Celestinian Pardon and Pope Francis’ concern for the people of the archdiocese still recovering from an earthquake in 2009 in which almost 300 people lost their lives.
Pope Francis also is scheduled to visit the L’Aquila cathedral, which is still closed to the public because of damage from the quake, and meet with the families of those who died.
The pope’s visit, the cardinal said, is a sign of his love for “our church and our city, which is even more precious when we take into account his pressing pastoral commitments and some painful health problems.”
At the heart of the Celestine Pardon, celebrated annually Aug. 28-29, is the granting of a plenary indulgence to everyone who visits the Collemaggio basilica, goes to confession, receives Communion and prays for the intentions of the pope. Pope Celestine established the celebration in 1294.
“Pope Francis will be the first pontiff to open the Holy Door after 728 years,” Cardinal Petrocchi wrote.
Currents News Staff
From a hospital in San Antonio, a teacher who survived the Uvalde shooting offered the most vivid account yet of what happened inside his classroom.
“The kids started asking out loud, ‘Mr. Reyes what is going on?’ And I said ‘I don’t know what’s going on,” said Robb Elementary School Teacher Arnulfo Reyes. “But let’s go ahead and get under the table. Get under the table and act like you’re asleep.'”
In an interview with ABC, Arnulfo recalled the moments he and his students in Classroom 111 heard gunshots while they were watching a movie. As he told them to take cover, Arnulfo said the gunman entered the classroom and opened fire. One bullet went through his arm and lung – and another hit his back, according to ABC.
“One of the students from the next-door classroom was saying, ‘Officer, we’re in here. We’re in here.’ But they had already left,” said Arnulfo. “He then got up from behind my desk and he walked over there, and he shot over there again.”
Officers had responded within minutes of the suspect entering the school, but were repelled by the gunman’s fire – and then stationed in a hallway waiting for reinforcements – even as children inside 911 and begged for help.
“I get more angry because you have a bulletproof vest,” said Arnulfo. “I had nothing.”
Meanwhile in Washington, an impassioned plea from actor and Uvalde native Matthew McConaughey urging lawmakers to act.
“We start by giving all of them our promise that their dreams are not going to be forgotten,” said Matthew McConaughey.
Currents News Staff
At least 13 mass shootings were reported in the U.S. this weekend, resulting in 17 deaths. On Sunday in Tennessee, gunfire erupted in the Chattanooga area for the second time within a week.
“I was like wow,” said Tennessee resident Jake Cobb. “It was just crazy how I was just right down the road when it happened.”
The non-profit, Gun Violence Archive, says at least 246 mass shootings took place around the country through June 5 this year. It also says that the U.S. is on pace to have more mass shootings in 2022 than in any other year.
“There’s more to do,” said New York Gov. Kathy Hochul. “Thoughts and prayers won’t fix this. But taking strong action will.”
White House officials say President Joe Biden is encouraged with the Senate negotiations on gun control measures, but would like action taken sooner rather than later.
“While there have been measured victories on gun violence prevention in recent years,” said White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, “there hasn’t been a wide ranging bill passed since 1994. That’s almost three decades ago. So the president has made it clear that it’s time for Congress to act.”
Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia is among the lawmakers who support raising the minimum age to buy a semi-automatic weapon to 21 – but many Republicans resist the idea.
“If we’re going to stop sending 18-year-olds to fight our wars for us,” said North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer, “then I suppose at that point I’d consider it. The age isn’t the issue. Nor is the gun.”
Currents News Staff
It’s a day of football, fun and faith. The annual Catholic Men’s Conference is being held at the Emmaus Center in the Diocese of Brooklyn this weekend.
Currents News is joined by the Chairman of the Emmaus Center, Msgr. Jamie Gigantiello to discuss who the guest speakers are, what attendees can expect, and how the timing of the event around Father’s Day isn’t a coincidence.
For tickets, head to https://emmausbrooklyn.org.